Heat exhaustion spelled the end of the Victoria Devils 2002-03 team’s run at a provincial under-12 girls ‘A’ softball crown in Richmond.
The View Royal-based squad had advanced to the loser’s bracket final with a thrilling extra-innings win over the Ridge Meadows 2002s. Playing the Tri City Titans immediately following the game, the Devils were forced to call the game in the fifth inning with three girls already pulled due to heat exhaustion and more faltering.
“The decision to call the game was in the best interest of the girls,” said Devils team manager Vicki Gschiel. “It was a sad way to end what was a really amazing weekend of ball.”
Despite the default the Devils, who led the Titans after two innings, still wound up with the bronze medal.
After posting a 3-1 record in round robin play – their only loss was 10-9 to eventual champion White Rock Renegades 2002s – the Devils opened the playoffs with a 7-6 loss to the Surrey Storm 2002s.
Victoria rebounded with an 8-3 win over the Delta Heat 2002s then faced a tough Ridge Meadows team.
The see-saw game saw the teams tied at 6-6 after seven innings and forced to play international rules, with a runner starting on second base.
After the mainland team scored twice in the top of the eighth, the Devils’ Hannah Unwin slammed a triple to knock in two runs and was thrown out at the plate making a head first dive for the winning run.
Ridge Meadows got one run back in the top of the ninth, but a Rachel Gschiel triple knotted the score again in the bottom half. Megan Eilertsen knocked her in for the final run in the walk-off win.
Pitcher Chelsea Musgrave went the distance for the Devils in the victory.
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